But like Horner, Marko has also clarified his comments. He tells Auto Bild that it is "of course not true" that he wanted Red Bull's drivers to be knowingly infected with Covid-19.

"It wasn't about deliberately infecting anybody," said the 76-year-old.

Marko believes he survived a coronavirus infection in February.

"If people my age - the highest risk group of all - can survive this disease, then you can certainly say that young athletes like our racing drivers should at least be less afraid of the consequences," he said.

"That was the only reason why we considered organising the training camp despite the danger from the virus. There was never any talk of deliberate infection."

The plain-speaking Austrian says the media has become "overwhelmed" by constant coverage of the pandemic.

"Television, radio, newspapers - it's all about the virus. Of course you have to be careful and try to get the pandemic under control as quickly as possible. But please, with a sense of proportion," said Marko.